I got work started on the Airstream Trailer

Today I get working on the Airstream; taking trash to the dump removing the sofa and wiping down surfaces and clean out cabinets. There was a lot of dirt, dust and rodent droppings to clean up. There was an older generator inside too and I got that out of the rig. I made a couple of trips to the dumpster and still have work to do tomorrow cleaning the bathroom and cabinets. I’m happy to be working on this project. It will take a while to get everything done and I’m sure there will be problems as I go along.

Here are some photos;

Bath is next to be cleaned

The carpet has to go!

Cleaner counter and sink

Where the couch was

The couch cushions and other stuff is out

The Recovery

On April 11, 2016, I had a double by-pass operation and all appears to have gone well. I spent another week in the hospital recovering and I must have done well enough as I was released to my own home in San Felipe Baja Mexico. Two dear friends and neighbors came to get me at the hospital and scooped me up and tucked me in the car and drove me to El Centro CA to spend the night before crossing the border the next day and the, to me, long drive down the coast and through the mountains and over the dry lake to my little house in the little Pueblo, San Felipe, I call home.

Upon arrival we had a meeting with my caretaker Maria who was contracted to take care of me and stay over night at my house just in case I need assistance. This turned out to be an excellent arrangement. She is experienced in caring for people and is a kind and gentle person. She speaks a little english which is fine with me as I got to use my Spanish and that made me use my brain. A week passed quickly and with many visits from neighbors and friends I began the process of healing.

May 2nd, I had a follow-up visit in La Jolla CA with the surgeon and I got a lot of questions answered about my health and the progress I was making and got positive encouragement from him and his staff that I was doing very well and to keep on with the regimen and to make an appointment with the recommended Cardiologist in El Centro CA in two weeks. The trip back to El Centro was uneventful and a good night’s rest prepared me for the shopping the next day and the trip back to San Felipe.

I didn’t realize how much effort I had been putting out on this trip to La Jolla when I got to my house I was exhausted and my old back injury was giving me a lot of pain. The following day my back was giving me more pain than the by-pass operation did and I had to use some pain medication to calm it down. When the following day arrived, thursday, I felt much better and I was ready for my hair appointment in town. I got to get my hair done and I felt much better about myself even though in my opinion I look like something the cat has been playing with I’m still pale and drawn looking. While in town I got to talk to some friends and that always cheers me up.

So, now I’m resting at home; I’ll have Maria come in two times a month for a while to keep house for me and I’ll see the Cardiologist in El Centro. One of these days I will be well enough to get back to driving my car again and going about my usual schedule. I hope.

As for selling my house here in San Felipe; I have taken it off the market and I’m reconsidering my options. There are many advantages to living in San Felipe and I have many caring friends here and at this point it is unlikely that I will leave here. I may go on trips and vacations, but San Felipe is home. I hope when needed I return the kindness and love I received when I needed it.

Thanksgiving Day 2015

Four years ago I arrived in this little town on the coast of the Sea of Cortez San Felipe, Baja, Mexico. I was driving an older RV and had my two pets a Lab named Shelby and a Siamese cat named Pia. We got a space at Kiki’s RV Park just a short walk from the iconic symbol of the town the lighthouse. I enjoyed walking the beach several times a day with my dog and the camaraderie of the RV park so much I decided to look for a place of my own to spend the winters.

I, with the help of Darrel the real estate agent of Baja Sun Realty, found and purchased a lot in Pete’s Camp. First I had the lot cleared and an RV pad put in. Before I knew it I was making plans for a little house and planting trees and bushes. I was lucky to have such kind and thoughtful neighbors that I didn’t want to leave. To make a long story shorter I haven’t left, which is rather odd for me as I am usually a rolling stone never in one place more than two or three years and now here I am four years later.

Not all has been joy, I lost my pets to infirmities of age and miss them terribly. They were my constant companions for many years and my attachment to them was emotional and profound. From time to time I get the urge to move on as the vagabond life still has its pull. Yet, I haven’t left-dare I say I have put down roots like my plants and trees?

Today is a beautiful day sunny and calm there are workers building my neighbors a new house the same ones who built mine. The fountain in my garden is gurgling and splashing, now and then a bird drops by for a little nourishment and flies off. I watch the sunlight patterns slowly move over the veranda and I am content, for now.

This little town, San Felipe Baja, Mexico has a pull that none other has had for me. I enjoy its celebrations and contribute what I can to improve life here. I celebrate the Mexican holidays and the American holidays taking the best of both as my own. I have become an Expatriate and wear the label with pride. I have friends and acquaintances who also are Expatriates and those who are sometimes temporary visitors. There a few things I miss about the “Old Country” and there are things I don’t miss about it. I view the country of my birth with more skeptical eye these days.

Today I will share a meal with neighbors and friends we’ll talk and laugh and enjoy each other’s company just like in the USA. Tomorrow I’ll have breakfast with other expats in town and enjoy the Mexican menu there. My life has this regular calm enjoyable pace to it I’ve only dreamed of in my mind before. Sometime I become a tempest in teapot over some issue or other happening in the “Old Country”, but sooner more than later I calm down and gaze at the water and enjoy the peace here. The calms are getting longer and longer.

Here are few photos of San Felipe for your enjoyment;

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View of the Veranda

 

Revolution Day in San Felipe

Today was the day the Revolution of 1910 was celebrated. The parade through town was made up of school children dressed in costumes and uniforms for the event. It seemed they took it all very seriously and it showed that they had practiced for the parade.

Friends and I had a great seat at the restaurant on the Malicon the street that runs along the beach in town. It is amazing how many children live and go to school in our little town. Most of the children are well behaved and appear well taken care of.

My friends and I had breakfast waiting for the parade. I had Divorced Eggs which is two eggs separated by beans and potatoes one with red sauce and one with green sauce all of this is placed on a tortilla. Very delicious-I’m getting quite fond of Green Chili sauce something I have avoided before.

I wore my holiday dress for the occasion and got some nice compliments from some Mexicans a few took our picture 🙂

Here are the photos, I must thank fellow Face Book friends for the photos;

Mexican Independence Day

I had a wonderful Mexican Independence Day! I got a new dress for the occasion got to see the parade went to a performance of Mariaches with friends then went for dinner and dancing and more special holiday food that was superb. I was busy all day going from venue to venue and it isn’t over yet. This saturday there is big celebration at the Mexican Naval station and I and my neighbors have tickets. Last years Naval celebration was spectacular so I am looking forward to this years celebration.

Here are a few photos of the big day;

More school kids marching

Raising the Flag

Navy patrol boat

Navy Marching

Marines Marching

Very good marchers

Little school kids are parading too

Here comes the parade

School kids marching

The interesting thing about the school children marching the ones in the front holding banners and flags are the ones with the highest grades. We have a lot of schools here in San Felipe so each school was represented.

My new dress for the holiday

I had the dress made in a local shop here and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly it was sewn and the fit was great. I will wear it at the celebration at the Naval Station saturday night.

The work continues at the new Cantina at Pete’s Camp

I have been looking for a house in town and I have seen a few but I haven’t found THE one just yet so still looking.

This is a typical for sale sign

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Very small home on a very small lot very low price not for me 3 of 3 photos

Looking into the front yard of small house 2 of 3 photos

Back yard of a small inexpensive house 1of 3 photos

So the search goes on looking for that one house with the right price, condition and space. Fun searching for the right house. Life is busy here with all the holidays both American and Mexican as well as the social events. The social scene is about to start and there will be dinners out and at homes, parties and lectures; all kinds of things to do and be part of. Not a bad life I would say.

One more photo of the dress with friends

Friday night

Tonight being friday night I went with a friend for dinner at Al’s Back Street Bar in San Felipe. On friday night they have an all you can eat special of fried fish and french fries. I can never eat more than one portion and one beer. Tonight I managed two beers and one portion. I should have had a photo taken of the cute kitty that shared our meal with us. The kitty was young and thin with the marking of a tortoise very friendly, we took turns holding her and petting her. The food was delicious as always, the weather was turning chilly and we left there and went to Padrino’s Italian restaurant for dessert before returning home. As usual we met more friends there and had a good time catching up on things.

Here I am about to enjoy my fish dinner;

Now home in my PJs all warm and snuggly having my tea and Whiskey before bed !

Here I am with Deb and Irene at Padrino’s Restaurant last night photo curtesy of Padrino’s

CCCCold In San Felipe

The weather here has been cold for us (40’s F), we aren’t used to very cold weather and now and then we get a cold snap in winter and it is uncomfortable. To add to my discomfort my portable gas heater is not working and the new fireplace smokes when the doors and windows are closed. When I open one then the smoke goes up the chimney okay, but that kind of defeats the purpose of keeping the room warm.

I have another portable gas heat a Mister Heater that is supposed to be used for camping. I used it as supplemental heat in my RV. The drawback with it is that it uses 1 lb. canisters and they don’t last long and I don’t have many. I have sent for a hose to attach the Mr. Heater to a 20 lb. tank. It may be here next week. I also bought some gas logs for the fireplace. The reason I’m switching to gas logs is two-fold, the first is they won’t smoke and the second is they won’t stink. The wood I am burning has a bad smell to it as it burns and even the ashes have a bad smell. When I burn this wood in the fire pit there is no problem with the smell because it is outside of the house. When burned inside the house it has an annoying odor and I have to clean up the ashes. It will take a while to get the gas line from my LP tank to the fireplace by then it maybe a lot warmer and I won’t need it. We still could get another cold snap, one just never knows about these things. I got a deal on the gas logs some folks were moving back to the states and wanted to sell theirs and the price was right.

I went to dinner at our Cantina tonight here in Pete’s camp and the Cantina was doing a very good business, seems lots of folks wanted to eat out tonight. Very pleasant company too. I am home now and I have my electric heater buzzing away keeping my feet warm 🙂 I won’t be smiling when I get the electric bill I bet!

New Photos

These are photos of how my house and garden looks this July. I am pleased with the growth of most of the garden, a few things have been less than spectacular but overall things have done well. When I get the town water flowing I’ll be able to plant more and have more things blooming!

July 11

The latest update on the house project is that the deal fell through. The owner wanted to up the land rent from $350 to $400 and cut the lease time and I balked and said no. Later the owner called the current lease holder and made an offer for the house the same offer I did. So at least the current occupant got out with some cash in hand.

On another note; I didn’t feel well the other day; tingling in the toes a little nausea and tired. I went to see the local MD and he had me take a EKG and compared it to a previous EKG. There was a difference and he suggested I see my Cardiologist in Tucson for a consultation and possible tests to explain the differences. Of course being a hypochondriac, this has been working on my mind and I’ve decided to go to Tucson and have this checked out. I have an appointment with my Cardiologist on Tuesday afternoon. I needed to go north for refills on my medications anyway so while doing that I’ll go to Tucson and take some tests and see if it is in my head or it is something else.

So now I’m packing the truck up and cleaning out my fridge as I don’t know how long I will be gone. This getting old stuff is a pain in the ass if it isn’t one thing giving you trouble it is another. I make another post when I get to Tucson.

I may have a new project

 

I was talking to a friend and she told me about a house for sale in town owned by a man who is not returning to Mexico except to visit and it was at a very reasonable price. I have been to see the house twice. It has some issues that need to be addressed. I’ll list the issues later first is the photos of the house. It is small, it has two bedrooms and other that has to be finished so three bedrooms and three baths, a small patio with a laundry room, the living room is a good size and has a fireplace. The garage holds two vehicles end to end and the garage roof can be used as a patio as it has a spiral staircase that is very sturdy. The kitchen comes equipped with stove and fridge. The stove is gas there is a gas hot water heater.

 

Living room

End of living room

Unfinished room

View of the patio

Laundry

View of the Sea of Cortez from the garage roof

Roof looks in good shape

View of the lighthouse from roof patio

 

 

 

View from the roof patio

Some of the issues are; Electrical wiring needs replacement, plumbing and toilets replaced, floor joists replaced in kitchen, floors leveled or replaced, unfinished room completed, patio redone, gas lines replaced, kitchen tiles replaced, AC installed. That’s the short list.  I am still in the “Thinking About It Stage”.